How to: Get a graduation gift together on the cheap

So, the niece graduates from high school this week (#faint). As the grad school student budget is not exactly rocking, I’m giving her a College Survival Basket. What’s in it: Well, here you go:

1. The basket proper: I got a basket that could be used as a shower basket from DollarTree in her favorite color ($1)

2. The filling. The practical: a sewing kit from the dollar bin at Target, velcro piecesfor putting stuff on her walls, and flip flops (the latter two items also being from DollarTree). I also added in an inexpensive flash drive (Total-$10). The fun: a graduation mug in her high school color and a graduation stuffed animal (DollarTree), a water bottle (Clearance at Old Navy), a magnet from her soon-to-be college (ebay) ($7).

I’m wrapping it up with clear plastic and ribbing from the Christmas tree Shop. :)